Comments on: Contractors are speaking up. They’re not happy.http://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/
Quick hits from a Times Union columnistMon, 24 Mar 2014 18:22:46 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1By: Cliff Southworthhttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-871
Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:58:36 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-871I think we all agree that there are people out there in every occupation that range from top-notch to dispicable – contractors, doctors, lawyers, customer service reps, etc. Licensing contractors is, in and of itself, not the bad idea – the problem is the proposed manner – submit to a criminal background check, take a class in contract law, and have the state maintain some sort of contractor database. I fail to see HOW these steps will result in a better pool of contractors to choose from. I heard nothing about teaching construction fundamentals or the lessons we should have learned as children – treat people with respect, treat them as you would want to be treated, do the right thing, etc. THAT is the problem – we do not live in a Utopian society, where everyone does the right thing – but apparently, here in New York, we believe we just need to pass a few hundred thousand laws, and Utopia will be all ours. Time to wake up and have your coffee…
]]>By: Nailbangerhttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-868
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:19:46 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-868#12 – No, your job is not to provide us with spell check. Only that you at least attempt to make sense when you start to post. I think, as do others, that you are missing the point. I assume, as others may not, that you are being deliberate and defensive. Perhaps you are a contractor who would benefit from a little professional “policing”; then again, you might be one of those not allowed to practice their craft in New York were such legislation passed.
]]>By: JChttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-855
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:22:09 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-855A contractor license does nothing to guarantee quality work. I recently had a garage built at my house and was very disappointed with the end result. This is not the first time I have had issues with a “licensed” contractor and I have discovered that a license is no guarantee of integrity. Forgive me for pulling the gender card, however I do believe that it is partly because I am female – how unfortunate for the builder of my garage that my dad worked in construction so I was able to recognize some of the shoddy workmanship and have it corrected.

I will not publicly throw either of the ‘licensed professionals’ who did me wrong under the bus, however if it comes up in any conversation I am quick to advise people who NOT to call.

I would also like to add that I have had quality, reasonably priced work done at my house by two different individuals, neither of whom is licensed but both of whom I have the utmost confidence in and who I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat.

Come on though! COME ON!! How much do we have to research? Is that what living in America is about – spending all your time researching versus living your life to ensure you get the service any good businessman ought to deliver? There’s 168 hours in every week. It’s not uncommon for someone to work 65 hours a week. 103 hours left. 8 hours of sleep per night? Subtract another 56 to get you to 47. You also need time to go grocery shopping, prepare and eat food, clean and pick up after yourself – ohh and a hobby you spend a couple hours a week on might be nice too. That can likely easily knock out another 25-30 hours per week. That leaves you 17-22 hours for spending time with your loved ones and “research”.

Bullocks to those who don’t have anyone to ask about it – not everyone owns a house nor do they always have someone they can trust to ask about working on it. Some people might just be the first in their family capable of purchasing their own property. Maybe they’re the first in their family and friends to *care* what that property looks like. Maybe…just maybe…regulations serve to support those who are breaking out of the economic class they were raised in. Those who don’t actually have support in anything they’re doing, but are doing it anyway with the idea that maybe…just maybe life could be better. God forbid we support that. We wouldn’t want people to hope or anything.

]]>By: Get Realhttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-860
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:12:31 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-860WOW! Guess so…Try living without your house or your possessions and not for a couple of months….try a couple of years. Meanwhile he has a couple of six figures floating around somewhere!
]]>By: Laurahttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-869
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:52:27 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-869Tired,

]]>By: Mister Smithhttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-859
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:31:24 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-859Yeah. Wow. Comparing a typo to causing someone to have to live for weeks or months without a shower or a roof. Comparing a typo to having thousands of dollars essentially stolen from you. “Wow” pretty much sums it up.
]]>By: Dan Higginshttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-858
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:00:54 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-858Wow.
]]>By: Tired Of Contractor Horror Storieshttp://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/contractors-are-speaking-up-theyre-not-happy/283/#comment-857
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:28:16 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/advocate/?p=283#comment-857Correction to last comment. It should have read 50,000 copies, not “50 copies” that would have lead to the sum of $25,000.00.

See, I’m not geting paid to make this correction. But I didd use MS Word. Unlike your error. “himsl’ is not a word.

“See, It’s always the contractors fault. It’s like trying to win a discussion with an irrational woman. Never gonna happen.”

Please refer to line 5, word #1. you typed “himsel”. I believe you attempted to type “himself”. Now, I may be mistaken, but YOU spent a number of years obtaining a “Higher Education” a degree as it were. Several years of education beyond, high school. (I could be wrong). In any event. you are getting paid by your employer, (Times Union/Hurst) to spell correctly while bringing “News” to the public. However, even with your “Higher Education” YOU managed to make at least one mistake.

The point? Even with testing, licensing and higher education. People make mistakes. Columnists are allowed to retract a word or statement, they are afforded the opportunity to correct their work once the error has been made (even with a higher education/degree) yet, a contractor makes a mistake and it costs him/her a license.

You have mad a mistake. Perhaps Columnists should be licensed to operate a computer with a word program that allows them to check their spelling. Apparently it wasn’t used properly.

Let’s see. the TU charges $0.50 and issue, multiply that by (a guess) 50 copies. That is roughly $25,000.00 given to the Times Union and at least one of their columnists has made a mistake and failed to meet the expectations of 50,000 readers by misspelling at lest one word. Those consumers paid to read a paper where the words are spelled correctly by a college educated “Professional”. Think about it. You, my friend, have essential “breached a contract”. There is not disclaimer on the front page of your newspaper that states a warranty or guarantee. There for it is not “expressly written”. However, it is “expressly implied” that each consumer will receive “Accurate” information and detail. How will the Times Union readers be compensated for your error? They probably will not be. Will the error cost you your job? Will the error cost you credibility? Will this response even be published? Or will you again paraphrase a commenter response to further mislead your readers? My job is not to provide accurate spelling. But your job is.